Circuit closing device



Nv, 3, 1931. L M, TARTAGLIA 1,830,298

CIRCUITA CLOS INC DEVICE S Mac-SW Patented Nov. 3, 19.31

PATENT FFICE LEONARDO M. TARTAGLIA, OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO CIRCUIT CLOSING DEVICE Application led April 24,

rlhis invention relates to circuit closing devices and particularly to such a device adapted to be operated simultaneously with the actuation of a clutch pedal of a motor 6 vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide a make and break device mounted upon a clutch pedal to be actuated simultaneously with the operation of the pedal. The operation of the .10 device will, therefore, be under the immediate control of a driver at all times without necessitating the removal of his hands from the steering wheel of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to pro- Vide a device of the character described and to construct the same in such a manner that it may be easily and quickly attached or removed without necessitating any particular skill.

Another object of the invention is to provide an actuating pedal mounted upon the clutch lever of a motor vehicle so that upon the operation of the motor clutch pedal by the driver a circuit will be closed to actuate z5 a semaphore, and indicate positively the drivers intention as to his direction of travel, his speed, or his stopping.

A further object of the invention is to provide an actuating pedal mounted upon a clutch lever and operated therewith to indicate the drivers intention as to his operation of the vehicle and to construct such a device which is highly eiicient in operation, yet of marked simplicity as a whole and in respect to each of its component parts, that its manufacture may be economically facilated both as to parts and their assembly.

With these and other objects in view which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising my invention, may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

In order to make Vmy invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limit- 1926. Serial No. 104,408.

ing the improvements in their useful applications to the particular construction, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

' In the drawings forming a part of this specification Figure l is a view in side elevation of a clutch lever with my improved actuating pedal mounted thereupon,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the pedal with a diagrammatic illustration of its electrical connections for operating a semaphore, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Figure l.

Referring by numerals to the drawings, l represents a. clutch lever mounted upon a shaft 2, which lever projects through the floor boards 3 of a motor vehicle in the usual and well known manner. The usual form of pedal is removed and in lieu thereof a plate 4 is provided. The plate 4 is pivotally mounted by a bolt In the center of the plate et is an upstanding short arm 6 supporting a ball hrough the center of which, in a parallel position to the plate l, is a pin or shaft 8. The ball 7 receives and supports a socket 9 provided with slots l0 adapted to straddle the shaft or pin 8. In this connection it is to be noted that the slots 10 are of such formation as to allow rocking of the socket forward and backward and from side to side, such rocking movement, however, is more or less restricted, the object of which will hereinafter appear.

Mounted upon the socket 9, or formed integral therewith, is an actuating pedal ll. The actuating pedal ll is normally supported in a parallel position with respect to the pedal or plate 4,- by coiled springs l2 l mounted at each corner between the actuating pedal 11 and the clutch pedal or plate Ll. The actuating pedal ll is provided with four contacts 13 one on each side and one on each of the ends.

The contacts 13 may be connected in series as shown at le, and connected by a suitable conductor l5 to one terminal of a battery 16, the other terminal of which is grounded as shown at 17, or the conductor may be connected to the pedal. The contactors 18 are adapted to contact with insulated contactors 18 mounted upon the plate or'pedal 4 in the same relative position as l5* the contactors 13 on the actuating pedal 11.

the set of contacts it is desired to connect,.

such manipulation being effected simultaneously with the operation of the clutch pedal. It Will be observed that by exertin pressure in either direction and doWnWar ly the contactors are brought together to effectually close a circuit to actuate any one of a series of semaphores.

Contact between the contactors is made with precision due to the restrict-ed movement of the actuating pedal by virtue of its particular mounting. The mounting ot' the actuating pedal is so designed that it Will be impossible for any given pair of contactors to be out of alignment when the pedal is operated to close a circuit to actuatea semaphore, the semaphore being controlled through a circuit connected to one of the pedal contactors.

For example if contactors 13 and 18 upon the back of the pedal are brought in contact, a circuit will be closed and current Will flow through a suitable conductor 19 connected to one of the magnetic lield windings 20 of an armature 21, the corresponding magnetic Winding being connected by a suitable line 22 and grounded as indicated at 24. Thus a magnetic flux will be set up and the armature 21 actuated to raise a semaphore 23 as clearly shownvin Figure 2. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the operation of one of a series of semapliores. It is of course to be understoodrthat each of the semaphores is operated in a like manner. Thus the signal device may be constructed to display any number of sema-1 phores according to thefancy of the producer.

lVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not conline myself to the precise details of construction herein set tort-h, by way ot illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claim. n

Having thus described the various features of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An automobile signalling device comprising a clutch pedal, an actuating pedal superimposed on the clutch pedal, and centrally pivoted thereon for longitudinal rocking 

